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Sweet Home School Board adopts 2025–26 budget, levies permanent and local-option taxes
Summary
The Sweet Home School District Board adopted the 2025–26 budget, approved a permanent tax rate of $5.0057 per $1,000 assessed value and a local-option levy of $0.30 per $1,000, and approved the consent agenda including three hires.
The Sweet Home School District Board on Monday adopted the district's 2025–26 budget and levied a permanent property tax rate of $5.0057 per $1,000 of assessed value and a local-option tax of $0.30 per $1,000.
The action, taken after a public hearing on the budget and discussion of fund balances and contingencies, also included authorization for general obligation bond debt service and the approval of a consent agenda that included three certified hires. The motion passed on a voice vote with all members voting in favor.
The budget presentation from district finance staff emphasized that June typically includes large cash outflows because the district issues paychecks that cover June, July and August for salaried staff. “Really, enrollment equals revenue for us,” the district finance staff said, explaining that state aid is tied to student counts and the district's revenue prospects depend on enrollment. The staff also told the board that “We will receive the final payment for this fiscal year in May of 2026,” referring to the state biennium reconciliation payment.
Board members pressed for clarity about the difference between the general fund and the district's total budget figures. Finance staff explained the larger total budget number includes special revenue funds, debt service and amounts set aside as contingency or long-term reserves. The presentation noted an operating contingency budgeted at about $3,356,000, which the district does not plan to spend and intends to carry into the next fiscal year.
During the formal action, a board member moved to adopt the 2025–26 budget “with no changes,” including the stated debt-service and tax rates. The board chair asked for discussion, and hearing none, called the question. The board voted “Aye,” and the motion passed.
Votes at a glance - Adopt 2025–26 budget and levy taxes (permanent rate $5.0057 per $1,000; local option $0.30 per $1,000): approved (voice vote). - Consent agenda: approved, including approval of minutes from the May 12, 2025 meeting and hires of Kayla Lopez (high school, social studies), Jesse Nelson (junior high, science) and Thomas Love (high school, art).
The budget action sets the district's formal spending and tax-levy authority for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Finance staff cautioned that the district will not have a final, reconciled state payment amount until May 2026, and that some expenditure pressure remains because of expected increases in employer retirement (PERS) rates next year.
Board and staff said they will continue to monitor enrollment closely because it directly affects revenue and long-term planning. The board closed the public hearing on the budget before taking the vote and then moved to other agenda items.
